Gaspéite
is a rare mineral that belongs to the Calcite group
of minerals that includes Calcite,
Cobaltocalcite,
Magnesite,
Rhodochrosite,
Siderite,
Smithsonite
and Spherocobaltite.
Gaspéite is being used in the jewelry trade for
beads, cabochons, pendants and carvings. Its pale to
bright green colors are unique and the material takes
a good shine. It has a high nickel content of about
33%. Gaspéite was discovered near
Mount Albert, Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, Canada but currently
the main source is near a tiny outback town called Widgiemooltha,
north of Perth in Western Australia. It has also
been found at Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture, Japan; on
Mabilikwe Hill, Pafuri, South Africa; and the San
Benedetto mine, Iglesias district, Sardinia, Italy.